He's 16... (totally pointless post)

[Storm Bride]

I'm not sure why, because I knew it was coming, but...I'm actually feeling a little shell-shocked. DS1 is 16. As of today, he can get a learner's license, and actually get behind the wheel of a car. WTF? How on earth can he be 16? I'm pregnant, for crying out loud! I'm not old enough to have a 16 year old son. I mean...obviously I am, but...wow...

I don't know why this particular birthday is hitting so hard. I expected a bit of this at 19 (legal age for...everything, in Canada), but not now. Maybe it's because his recent (two weeks ago) haircut also makes him look older. Maybe it's just the car thing...seeing as how I've only been driving for four years. I don't know, but I'm really just...wow...

It's been a wild roller-coaster of a 16 years, but not so much with ds1, as with everything else.

He's pretty much outgrown "mommy". *sigh*

[Cherie2]

i know ... how does it happen?

[enkmom]

My children were able to get their driver's licenses on their 16th birthdays. One of the loneliest feelings in the world is watching your baby drive off on their own. Where does the time go?

[Storm Bride]

I don't know. DD is only 6, and I still have some "we're just getting started" feeling with her...but I know all too well how fast that's over.

You know...ds1 is a remarkable young man. I'm really proud of him (although I'm not sure I've had that much to do with it), and I'm glad he's gaining maturity and is responsible and all that. But...sometimes, I still miss my little boy.

[MusicianDad]

Originally Posted by Cherie2

i know ... how does it happen?

Dunno, but it's not gonna happen here. My kids are never going to age past 15...

[enkmom]

good luck with that, MusicianDad!

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by MusicianDad

Dunno, but it's not gonna happen here. My kids are never going to age past 15...

Like it matters with girls? Once they hit puberty, they're completely different creatures!

[bigeyes]

Weird, isn't it? My ds's voice is changing.

Depends on the day, but some days I wish they could be 2 forever, and other days I can't wait for them to be grown so they understand WTH we're talking about.

[MusicianDad]

Originally Posted by enkmom

good luck with that, MusicianDad!

How did I know someone was going to say that.

Originally Posted by Ruthla

Like it matters with girls? Once they hit puberty, they're completely different creatures!

All I can say is "amen".

So...

Amen!

Luckily so far DD's creature is a fairly decent one. And she still likes to cuddle.

If they insist on growing up, then a convent and priesthood respectively...

[bigeyes]

Originally Posted by MusicianDad

If they insist on growing up, then a convent and priesthood respectively...

:

can I come live in that dream world you're building?

[MusicianDad]

Originally Posted by bigeyes

:

can I come live in that dream world you're building?

Sure.

DD has all ready decided she wants to go live with the nuns that wear pink.

[bigeyes]

Now the question is, which dream world is better...no puberty, or convents and monasteries....

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by bigeyes

Weird, isn't it? My ds's voice is changing.

It's weird, but it's not ds1's voice changing that really throws me. It's the fact that he has friends, some of whom I've known since kindergarten or 1st grade, that I can't identify on the phone, anymore. What happened to them all???

What really got me was when I realize a couple years ago that he's taller than me. I mean...I knew it was coming, but for some reason I thought it would be at like...18 or something...not 14-15. And, now? He's about 1" shorter than dh and he patted my mom on the head last night. EEK!

Depends on the day, but some days I wish they could be 2 forever, and other days I can't wait for them to be grown so they understand WTH we're talking about.

:
I know exactly what you mean. I want my little guy back, but I also don't...it's kind of fun watching him grow up and start to get stuff.

[BedHead]

I know exactly what you mean. I was 16 when I left home, and my two boys are past that now. Dd will be 16 next year, and my oldest will be 20!!! How does it happen is right!?!?!

[bigeyes]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

What really got me was when I realize a couple years ago that he's taller than me. I mean...I knew it was coming, but for some reason I thought it would be at like...18 or something...not 14-15. And, now? He's about 1" shorter than dh and he patted my mom on the head last night. EEK!

When I was growing up, we all thought it was funny when we were tall enough to rest our chins on Grandma's head, she was 5 feet tall. This was usually about the 7th grade or so.

Yesterday I realized I can't rest my chin on either of my dc's heads.

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

I know exactly what you mean. I want my little guy back, but I also don't...it's kind of fun watching him grow up and start to get stuff.

Oh, it's so funny when they say something and sound just like one of us.

[MusicianDad]

Originally Posted by bigeyes

Now the question is, which dream world is better...no puberty, or convents and monasteries....

*sigh* DD started puberty without my consent, so we have to deal with it. She has yet to turn 16 though.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by MusicianDad

*sigh* DD started puberty without my consent, so we have to deal with it. She has yet to turn 16 though.

I'm pretty sure my dd has hit puberty, too. She's 6.

[bigeyes]

Originally Posted by MusicianDad

*sigh* DD started puberty without my consent, so we have to deal with it. She has yet to turn 16 though.

I know! The nerve, they don't even ask permission!

[Kerlowyn]

Storm Bride, I am right behind you. My DS1 turns 16 in June. He is so much a man now, I cherish any little glimpse I get of the little boy he once was. Sometimes it is in his smile, or even when he has a mini temper tantrum!

He is now 6' 1", and has been the tallest one in the house for some time. I don't know all his friends' names. I can't always fix things and make everything all better, like I can with my little ones.

There are times my six year old DS reminds me so much of DS1. I was a single mom then, it was just DS1 and me. Good times we had, and I miss those times.

He will be able to drive soon. In 2 years, he will be an adult. When you hear from people after you have a baby, about how fast the time goes by, it is hard to understand. Now, here we are.

IKWYM about not feeling old enough! Even though I certainly am at 46, I just weened my last child a year ago. I am sure I will feel the same when someone someday tells me I am going to be a grandmother.....

[Storm Bride]

I was a single mom for a while with ds1. We were also extremely attached before that, because I was trying to so hard to protect him (emotionally) and nurture him in a crazy home situation. We were mom and son, but also...allies. When dh met me, one of his earliest observations about ds1 was that we were "very attached". It's so strange to watch him grow away from me. I mean - I'm glad he is, because I think it's healthy, but it's...strange.

I still know all his friends, but I don't know all his classmates, anymore. I don't know their parents (have met many of them, but don't know them). I know what you mean about not being able to make everything better, too.

And, it's funny you said that about your other ds. DS2 is only 3.5, but sometimes, he reminds me so much of ds1 that it's freaky. That's kind of strange, too - ds1 looked like his dad as a child, and ds2 looks just like his dad (dh). I can't quite put my finger on the similarity (although my two semi-blond guys both sitting at the dinner table with no shirts is part of it ).